Photo of the Iron Dome Intercepting a Rocket Near a Plane is Doctored
The Claim
A photo shows the Israeli Iron Dome system intercepting a rocket launched from Gaza. The rocket was near a civilian aircraft within Israeli airspace.
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Amid the recent attack on Gaza, Israeli media users circulated a photo purporting to show an Israeli iron dome system intercepting a rocket fired from Gaza next to a civilian flight in Israeli airspace.
The viral photo was attributed to well-known Israeli media outlets, ערוץ 7 (Channel 7) and החדשות - N12 (The News - N12), as their respective watermarks were visible in the photo.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulating photo and found it to be fake. Misbar’s team found the viral photo to be digitally edited.
Photo of the Rocket Near a Plane is Doctored
Although Misbar’s team was unable to find the original video, it is evident that the photo has undergone significant digital modifications.
By conducting a reverse image search on the plane depicted in the photo, it was discovered that the aircraft appears to be associated with the FlyDubai company.
When Misbar's team compared the widely circulated video (on the right) with a photo of a FlyDubai plane (on the left), we observed striking similarities between the two aircraft. Notably, the jet engines, vertical/horizontal stabilizers, rudders, and elevators of both planes exhibited great resemblance.
The different shades of blue in the sky are also signs of botched digital editing.
No Flights from Dubai to Israel on Wednesday
A screenshot of FlyDubai's scheduled flights from Dubai to Israel was shared by the Twitter account "This is Gaza."
Following three consecutive days without any flights, only one flight to Israel from Dubai is expected, the user tweeted.
Furthermore, Misbar's team investigated the scheduled flights bound for Israel and found that all remaining flights had been canceled. Importantly, there were no scheduled flights from Dubai to Israel on May 10.
An important point to highlight is that Ben Gurion Airport in Israel suspended all incoming and outgoing flights due to the rockets from Gaza.
Recent Airstrikes on Gaza Strip
The situation in the Gaza Strip has become increasingly dire, with at least 21 fatalities reported as a result of Israeli air raids. The region has experienced relentless bombardment for two consecutive days, prompting a heightened sense of fear and instability.
In response, the Gaza Strip has launched rockets targeting towns in southern Israel, creating a tense and chaotic atmosphere.
The escalation of violence has led to the temporary closure of schools and universities across the Strip as announced by Gaza's education ministry.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the security developments in Gaza, emphasizing the escalating violence and the possibility of further loss of life. Guterres has called on all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint and work towards an immediate cessation of hostilities.
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